Editors’ Note: Starting in August 2021, this testing regimen has been superseded for desktop reviews by an updated methodology detailed here. For reference purposes, we’ve retained this summary of previous testing procedures, which applied to desktop systems reviewed from 2018 to mid-August 2021.
The process of reviewing desktop computers at PCMag.com carries on core traditions that date back to the establishment of PC Labs in 1984: We compare each system to others in its category on the basis of price, features, design, and in-house performance tests.
To evaluate performance, we use a suite of software-based benchmark tests and real-world applications and games, carefully chosen to highlight the strengths and weaknesses in the tested PC’s mix of components. That evaluation ranges from the processor and the memory subsystem to the machine’s storage hardware and graphics silicon.
In some cases, we make use of standardized tests created by established benchmark developers. We’ve also created our own tests where needed. We regularly evaluate new benchmark solutions as they hit the market and overhaul our testing procedures as needed to ensure that we can accurately reflect the effects of the latest technologies.
(Photo: Zlata Ivleva)
Our desktop PC testing breaks down into two rough classes: productivity testing and graphics testing, with some supplemental tests for specialized systems such as gaming rigs or workstations. Here’s a breakdown of each.
Productivity Testing
PCMark 10
Our first task is evaluating a computer’s everyday productivity performance using UL’s PCMark 10 benchmark, which simulates real-world productivity and content-creation workflows. (In 2014, Underwriters Labs acquired Futuremark, the maker of the long-running PCMark and 3DMark benchmarks.)
We use PCMark 10 to assess overall performance for office-centric tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet jockeying, web browsing, and videoconferencing. The test generates a proprietary numeric score; higher numbers are better, and the scores are meaningful primarily when compared to one another.
We run the main test suite supplied with the software, not the Express or Extended version. Note that all else being equal, a higher screen resolution will mean lower performance in PCMark 10 (the more pixels to push, the more resources required). For that reason, we test all desktop PCs at 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (1080p), save for all-in-one (AIO) desktops with built-in displays. We test those at the screen’s native resolution, which may be higher or lower than 1080p.
PCMark 8 Storage
We assess the speed of the PC’s main boot drive using another UL benchmark, PCMark 8. This test suite has a dedicated PCMark 8 Storage subtest that reports a proprietary numeric score, like so…
As with PCMark 10, higher numbers are …….
Source: https://www.pcmag.com/about/how-we-test-desktops-2018-to-mid-2021-methodology